U.S. patent number 5,035,695 [Application Number 07/491,568] was granted by the patent office on 1991-07-30 for extendable electrocautery surgery apparatus and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jaroy Weber, Jr.. Invention is credited to Michael A. Kast, Terrance L. Kloeckl, Frank T. Watkins, III, Jaroy Weber, Jr..
United States Patent |
5,035,695 |
Weber, Jr. , et al. |
* July 30, 1991 |
Extendable electrocautery surgery apparatus and method
Abstract
An improved electrocautery method and instrument includes
interlock features which enable the instrument to be safely
operated under convenient manual controls including a slide element
and control buttons and interlock switch positioned on the
instrument.
Inventors: |
Weber, Jr.; Jaroy (Woodside,
CA), Kloeckl; Terrance L. (San Francisco, CA), Kast;
Michael A. (Palo Alto, CA), Watkins, III; Frank T.
(Menlo Park, CA) |
Assignee: |
Weber, Jr.; Jaroy (Woodside,
CA)
|
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to April 24, 2007 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
26823795 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/491,568 |
Filed: |
March 9, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
125652 |
Nov 30, 1987 |
4919129 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
606/42; 606/45;
604/35; 606/49 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
18/1402 (20130101); A61B 2017/320008 (20130101); A61B
2018/00976 (20130101); A61B 2018/1475 (20130101); A61B
2018/00946 (20130101); A61M 2209/04 (20130101); A61B
2018/00958 (20130101); H01H 2300/014 (20130101); A61B
2018/00196 (20130101); A61B 2017/32113 (20130101); A61M
1/7415 (20210501); A61B 2218/008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
18/14 (20060101); A61M 1/00 (20060101); A61B
17/32 (20060101); A61B 18/00 (20060101); A61B
017/39 () |
Field of
Search: |
;606/42,45,46,48,49,50
;128/800,801 ;604/35 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cohen; Lee S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Smith; A. C.
Parent Case Text
This is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 07/125,652
filed on Nov. 30, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,129.
Claims
I claim:
1. Surgical apparatus comprising:
an elongated body having a forward end and a rearward end;
conductor means for supplying electrical signal extending
substantially through the body from near the rearward end to near
the forward end thereof;
means within the body slidably supporting the conductor means for
selective slideable positioning thereof between rearward-most and
forward-most positions along a slideable path relative to said
forward end;
slider means slideably disposed on the body and coupled to the
conductor means for selectively altering the position thereof along
the slideable path relative to said forward end; and
circuit mean including the conductor means for controlling the
application of electrical signal thereto in response to the
position of the conductor means along the slideable path
thereof;
said circuit means including an interlock switch means operable in
conductive state and in non-conductive state and disposed to be
actuated for operation in the non-conductive state in response to
the conductor means being positioned near a rearward-most position
along the slideable path thereof, and in the conductive state in
response to the conductor means being positioned near a
forward-most along the slideable path thereof, said interlock
switch means including auxiliary switch means disposed in the body
for grounding the conductor means during operation in said
non-conductive state.
2. Surgical apparatus comprising:
an elongated body having a forward end and a rearward end;
conductor means for supplying electrical signal extending
substantially through the body toward the forward end thereof;
means with the body slideable supporting the conductor means for
selective slideable positioning thereof between rearward-most and
forward-most positions along a slideable path relative to said
forward end;
slider means slideably disposed on the body and coupled to the
conductor means for selectively altering the position thereof along
the slideable path relative to said forward end; and
circuit means including the conductor means for controlling the
application of electrical signal thereto in response to the
position of the conductor means along the slideable path
thereof;
said circuit means including an interlock switch means operable in
conductive state and in non-conductive state and disposed to be
actuated for operation in the non-conductive state in response to
the conductor means being positioned near a rearward-most position
along the slideable path thereof, and in the conductive state in
response to the conductor means being positioned near a
forward-most position along the slideable path thereof;
switch means including at least one switch mounted in the body and
including an actuator therefor positioned on the body for manually
actuating said one switch for selectively applying electrical
signal through said circuit means to the conductor means; and
a slide element disposed on the body and coupled to the conductor
means for manually positioning the same along the slideable path
thereof;
said slide element including means oriented to shroud the actuator
against manual operation thereof in response to the conductor means
and the slide element coupled thereto being disposed near the
rearward position along the slideable path thereof.
3. A method of operating an electrosurgical instrument including a
manually-controlled slideable electrical conductor extendable from
a forward end of the instrument to controllable supply suitable
electrical signal for treating tissue, the method comprising the
steps of:
slideably supporting the electrical conductor within the instrument
for longitudinal sliding motion between a forward position for
which the electrical conductor extends from the forward end of the
instrument, to a rearward position for which the electrical
conductor is substantially retracted within the forward end of the
instrument for selectively manually extending and retracting the
electrical conductor relative to said forward end in response to
manual control of the slideable position of the electrical
conductor within the instrument; and
inhibiting the application of electrical signal including grounding
the electrical conductor in response to the positioning of the
electrical conductor near the rearward slideable position
thereof.
4. The method of operating an electrosurgical instrument according
to claim 3 in which a switch and a manual actuator therefor is
mounted on the instrument and a slide element is disposed on the
instrument for manually positioning the electrical conductor, the
method comprising the step of:
coupling the switch to selectively supply electrical signal to the
electrical conductor suitable for treating tissue in response to
manual actuation of the actuator for the switch; and
positioning the slide element for shrouding the actuator against
manual actuation thereof in response to the electrical conductor
being positioned near the rearward position thereof.
Description
RELATED CASE
The subject matter of this application is related to the subject
matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,720 which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
This invention relates to electrocautery surgical instruments and
more particularly to an electrocautery scalpel system having
variably extendable suction and electrode elements to facilitate
electrocautery surgery at deep locations within surrounding
tissue.
Electrocautery instruments commonly rely upon high-voltage,
high-frequency electrical signals of various waveforms to
selectively sever, clamp or coagulate living tissue during surgical
procedures. In addition, many such electrocautery instruments
include integral vacuum conduits and associated suction apparatus
for evacuating tissue fluids and volatized tissue materials that
commonly accompany electrocautery incision of living tissue.
Devices of these types are disclosed in the literature (see, for
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,311,494; 1,963,636; 2,002,594; 2,894,512;
3,662,151; 3,682,162; 3,828,780; 3,835,842; 3,850,175; 3,884,237;
3,902,494; 3,906,955; 3,974,833; 3,987,795; 4,011,872; 4,112,950;
and 4,562,838; and French Patent No. 73.30854). Electrocautery
instruments of these types also commonly employ a retractable
electrode or a vacuum port to enhance the utility of the instrument
during surgical procedures. One difficulty encountered with certain
electrocautery scalpels having extendable and retractable
electrodes is that the geometry of the instruments usually limits
the depth in tissue to which the instruments can conveniently
penetrate without expanding the incision to accommodate the
surgeon's hand. As certain surgical procedures progress and
penetrate deeper into a surgical site, it is frequently desirable
to extend the instrument to longer dimension with control over the
retractable electrode in order to facilitate advancing the surgery
into deep, confined sites.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an improved
electrocautery surgical instrument includes a retractable electrode
and a vacuum conduit for selectively evacuating a surgical site,
and also includes attachable extension units of various lengths for
selectively extending the operational utility of the instrument as
a surgical procedure progresses. The vacuum port and slidable
electrode/blade of the instrument are thereby extended a selected
dimension to facilitate deep surgical procedures in confined sites.
Safety switching is included within the instrument to control
application of high-voltage electrical signals to the
electrode/blade and to permit the user to establish electrically
inactive conditions during attachment and removal of extension
units. The electrocautery surgical instrument thus configured
according to the present invention facilitates surgical procedures
in deep surgical sites as well as in shallow surgical sites without
having to replace the instrument in the surgeon's hand during the
surgical procedure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the electrocautery surgical
instrument with an attached extension unit; and
FIG. 2 is a side view of the extension unit of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional assembly view of the extension unit
of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4, 4(A) and 4(B) are an exploded assembly view of the
instrument of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the interlock switch of FIG. 4;
and
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the interlock
switch according to the present invention.
FIG. 7(A) and (B) are plan and sectional views, respectively, of
the body of the electrode scraping means; and
FIGS. 8(A) and (B) are plan and side views, respectively, of a
flat, blade-like electrode for assembly within the body of FIG.
7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the
electrocautery instrument 9 with an extension unit 11 attached to
the front end of the instrument. Specifically, the retractable
electrode/blade 13 is extended forward and is retractable within
the extension unit 11, and the vacuum port 15 is also extended
forward from the instrument 9 to provide substantially the same
blade 13 and port 15 characteristic at the front of the extension
unit 11 as are available on the front of the instrument 9 without
the extension unit 11 in place. The extension units 11 may be of
variable length as desired to facilitate deep surgical procedures,
and may be attached and removed as desired by press-fit or
snap-toggle attachment on the front of the instrument 9. A
manually-slidable element 17 is attached to the electrode 13 to
control the extent of the protrusion of the electrode 13 from the
front of the attached extension unit 11. Push buttons 19 and 21 are
provided to control application of different high-voltage,
high-frequency waveforms to the electrode 13 for either incising or
cauterizing tissue in known manner. In addition, the guide opening
for the electrode 13 at the front of the extension unit 11 may be
disposed closely about the blade 13 to scrape off adherent coagulum
and tissue materials as the electrode is retracted therethrough in
response to manual activation of the slide element 17. The Portion
27 of electrode 13 that is exposed is insulated to facilitate
manipulation of the instrument within surrounding tissue without
undesirably discharging electrical signals to surrounding tissue in
the region 27 between the electrode 13 and the front 25 of the unit
9. A decompression port 29 is disposed in at least one lateral
dimension from the vacuum port 15 to control the maximum pressure
differential that can be developed at the vacuum port 15 under
conditions of the port 15 being occluded by tissue which might be
damaged by excessive suction.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a side view of the
extension unit 11. The lower tube 31 is the vacuum conduit with the
vacuum port 15 and decompression port 29. The upper electrode 13
and connecting conductor 33 is insulated 35 over the region 27 that
extends between the instrument 9 and the exposed electrode 13. The
body 37 of the extension unit 11 may be welded, glued or otherwise
attached to the vacuum tube 31, and serves as a guide for the
electrode 13 which is slideably mounted therein. The electrode 13
may be needle-like, or generally flat (i.e., its width is greater
than the thickness) to serve as a surgical blade. The body 37 may
include a scraping guide 39 for removing adherent coagulum and
tissue material as the electrode 13 and the conductor 33 to which
it is attached is withdrawn into and through the body 37.
The sectional view of FIG. 3 illustrates the attachment of the
vacuum tube 31 to the body 37. Also, the electrode/blade 13 portion
of the conductor 33 is shown disposed to slide within the guide way
41 in the body 37 through and past the scraping means 39 at the
forward end thereof. Alternative embodiments of scraping means are
described herein with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
Referring now to the exploded assembly drawing of FIG. 4, there is
shown the internal features of the instrument 9 which accommodate
attachment of the extension unit 11 on the front end thereof.
Specifically, the right and left half sections 43, 45 of the
instrument 9 are disposed to house the switches, electrode, manual
slider, vacuum conduit and valving, and associated wiring to form
the electrocautery instrument when assembled as shown. The vacuum
conduit or suction tube 47 in the lower portion of the sections
43,45 is positioned in fluid-tight engagement 49 with the vacuum
port 51 in the forward end of the instrument 9, which vacuum port
has an inner diameter (or other cross-sectional dimensions) that
receive therein the attachment end of the vacuum conduit 31 of the
extension unit 11 in press-fitted, fluid-tight engagement.
Alternatively, jam taper fit, or threaded engagement, or
snap-fitting o-ring on an annular recess may be used to seal and
secure the instrument and extension unit together as well as form a
continuation of the vacuum conduit 47, 31. Also, the vacuum port 51
of the instrument 9 may have a decompression port 53 for limiting
the pressure differential at the port, as previously described with
reference to the ports 15, 29 on the extension unit 11. This
decompression port 53 is disposed within a socket or receptacle of
the vacuum port 51 to be sealed off by insertion into such socket
or receptacle of the connecting end of the vacuum conduit 31 of the
extension unit 11. The vacuum conduit is therefore extended forward
to the vacuum and decompression ports 15, 29 of the extension unit
11 when the extension unit 11 is properly attached to the front of
the instrument 9. This vacuum conduit may be connected via a
suitable control valve such as a roller 55 disposed to manually
Pinch off the flexible conduit 47 that connects to a remote vacuum
supply (not shown). In this way, the operating surgeon may control
the application of suction at a surgical site by positioning the
vacuum port 15 (or 51, if an extension unit 11 is not attached) and
by manually rotating the pinch roller 55 to selectively pinch off
the flexible conduit 47, and thereby control the vacuum action at
the port 15.
In the upper portion of the instrument 9, the slide element 17 is
disPosed to slide longitudinally in tracks or grooves 61 in the
body of the instrument 9. The tab 68 that protrudes from the slide
element 17 through a groove 65 engages the slide electrode 100 at
the recess 101 to thereby control retraction and extension of the
electrode 71 under manual control of the slide element 17. The
electrode conductor 69, in one embodiment of the present invention,
may slide in electrical contact through contactor 67 to engage the
safety switch 85 in its rearward-most retracted position. The
electrode 71 attaches 73 to the slide electrode 100 at the forward
end thereof for gripping the electrode/blade 71 (or the contact end
33 of the electrode conductor 35 of an extension unit 11) by
friction or snap-toggle engagement, or the like, in known manner.
The switch plate 63 includes conventional dome-type switches 79, 81
which may be activated by the push buttons 75, 77 that are mounted
in the body of the instrument 9. Thus, the push-button switches 79,
81 may be manually activated when the slide element 17 (and
therefore the electrode/blade 71 or 13) is positioned in the
forward location. In the rearward position of the slide element 17,
one or more of the push-button switches 79, 81 are shrouded by the
slide element 17 as protection against inadvertent manual
activation. Additionally, the rearward end of the electrode
conductor 69, 71, is disposed to engage an interlock switch 85 that
is wired into the circuit including the electrode and a source (not
shown) of high-frequency, high-voltage electrical signals. Thus,
electrical signals for either severing or cauterizing tissue are
connected from such source via a cable 87 (which may be integral
with the vacuum conduit for convenience) to the switches 79, 81 on
the switch plate 63. The interlock switch 85 is thus disposed to
cut off the application of all electrical signals when the
electrode conductor 69 is in the rearward-most position. In this
position, the slide element 17 shrouds either or both of the Push
buttons 75, 77 as a further safety interlock feature while the
electrode is withdrawn rearwardly into the body of the instrument 9
(or into the body 37 of an extension unit 11). Scraping means 89,
as illustrated in FIG. 7, may be disposed about the electrode/blade
71 to dislodge adherent coagulum and tissue material as the
electrode/blade 71 is withdrawn into the body under manual control
of the slide element 17. Thus, during operating procedures, the
electrode/blade 71 (or 13 of an extension unit 11) may be withdrawn
into the body of the instrument 9 (or of the extension unit 11)
under manual control of the slide element 17 to clean the blade and
to configure the front end of the unit to facilitate its use simply
as a vacuum probe to evacuate a surgical site. In this
configuration, the push buttons 75, 77 are shrouded against
inadvertent activation, and the roller 55 may be manually activated
to pinch and unpinch the flexible tubing 47, as desired.
Alternatively, the electrode 71 (or 13 of an extension unit 11) may
be advanced under manual control of the slide element 17 to
protrude from the instrument 9 (or extension unit 11). In this
configuration, the push buttons 75, 77 are exposed and may be
manually activated to control the supply of either severing or
coagulating electrical signals to the electrode/blade via the
interlock switch 85.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a sectional view of one
embodiment of the interlock switch 85 which is disposed within an
enclosing housing 91 to be actuated by the rearward end of the
electrode conductor 69. Thus, the control leads 93, 95 (which may
conduct low-voltage control signals) from the push button switches
79, 81 on the contact plate 63 connect via the cable 87 to a
conventional source (not shown) of high-voltage, high-frequency
signal, and such signal is thus supplied through a power conductor
86 in the cable 87 and through contact 84 of the interlock switch
85 to the switch plate 63, slide contactor 67, and electrode 71 (or
13). In the rearward-most or retracted position of the electrode
conductor 69, the power conductor 86 may be shunted to ground
through alternate contact 88 and a ground conductor 90 in the cable
87.
In another embodiment of the interlock switch 85 according to the
present invention, as illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 6,
the electrode conductor 69 of FIG. 4 is formed in a printed-circuit
like structure 103 including a non conductive central region 105
having a recess 107 to receive the tab 68 of the slide element 17,
and a rearward section 109 that includes a conductor 110 disposed
on an insulating layer 112. The conductor 110, of course, connects
to the attaching means (or universal chuck) 73, and is slideably
engaged by contacts 114 and 119. Electrical signal on contacts 114
(from a signal generator not shown) is applied to the electrode 71
(or 13 of an extender unit) while such electrode is in extended
position under the manual control of the slide element 17. However,
the insulating layer 112 of the electrode conductor 69 includes an
aperture 116 at a location approximately at the maximum rearward
extent of travel (i.e. retracted electrode) and in line with the
contact 114. Another sliding contact 118 is disposed to connect to
the contact 114 only within the aperture 116, and to be insulated
therefrom by the insulating layer 112 otherwise. In the retracted
position of structure 103, the sliding contact 119 may also be
insultated by 112 from conductor 110 based upon the particular
pattern of the conductor 110. Contact 118 may be connected back to
ground via the shield on cable 87. Therefore, the electrode 13 or
71 may be effectively grounded while in the retracted position to
prevent inadvertent electrical excitation of the electrode blade 71
(or 13) during configuration and use of the instrument as a vacuum
probe, or during attachment of detachment of an extension unit.
Referring now to FIG. 7A and B, there are shown plan and sectional
views, respectively, of the scraping means 89 for guiding and
scraping the electrode blade illustrated in FIGS. 8A and B.
Specifically, these views illustrate the ferrule-like structure 89
of FIG. 7 that may conveniently snap into place near the forward
edge of the instrument (or of an extension unit) for easy
replacement of electrodes of different configurations (e.g. flat or
needle-like). Thus, the scraping means 89 includes a generally
hollow body through which the electrode 13 of FIG. 8 slides, and
includes a close-fitting forward aperture 121 which engages the
blade portion 123 of the electrode 13 is sliding, contacting
relationship. The rear portion of the body 89 includes resilient
jaws-like structure 125 to facilitate assembly of the electrode 71
(including the section 127 of expanded diameter) into the body from
the rearward end toward the forward end. The jaws-like structure
return to position to retain the electrode 71 entirely to
captivated and slideable within the body 89. The section 127 is
received by and retained in the attachment means 73 to facilitate
the mechanical sliding motion of the electrode 71 within the body
89 under manual control of the user. Spring-like protrusions 129
formed on the body 89 about its central section facilitate the
snap-in retention of the body 89 and captivated electrode 71 within
and near the forward end of the instrument 9. Thus, electrodes 71
of different shapes and lengths may be conveniently inserted in and
removed from the instrument (or extension units) as the surgical
operation proceeds.
In operation, the instrument 9 (with or without attached extension
unit 11) may be configured to operate either as a vacuum probe
alone (with the electrode/blade 71, 13 retracted) or as an
electrosurgical instrument with the electrode/blade 13, 71 extended
into operational position. In the latter configuration, the
electrical control buttons are exposed and the safety, interlocking
switch is actuated to permit high-voltage, high-frequency
electrical signals to be supplied to the protruding electrode/blade
under control of one or more of the uncovered, exposed push
buttons. The operational length of the instrument may be altered by
attaching or detaching extension units of desired length. The
vacuum port of the instrument is altered by attachment of an
extension unit, and the electrode/blade of the extension unit is
electrically connected and mechanically attached for convenient
manual extension and retraction control from the instrument.
Therefore, the method and apparatus of the present invention
facilitates the convenient extension of an electrocautery surgical
instrument to accommodate surgical procedures performed deep within
surrounding tissue while providing interlock features that enhance
the safety and utility of the instrument during attachment and
detachment of extension units and during its operation as a vacuum
probe.
* * * * *